Buddhism is one of the oldest religions, which is connected to the meditations and understanding of the inner soul and the abilities of the mind (Shearin 54). I have visited Shambhala Meditation Center. It is a part of Mahayana tradition and specifically focuses on Shambhala (“Shambhala” par. 1).
The goal of the Shambhala’s teaching is to understand the importance of every moment via mindful meditations (Manning 10). Living a conscious life is vital, as people have a tendency to avoid it (Hawes 2). Shambhala actively supports the primary values of Mahayana, as it encourages a person to support the understandings of the inner-self.
Even though Shambhala is famous, it does not mean that it develops the primary Buddhist teachings. In my opinion, the tradition of Shambhala is obscure and limited since it does not encourage a person to experience mental sufferings, which lead to profound enlightenment.
Speaking of the architecture, its simplicity and modernity exactly match the primary concepts of Buddhism. The simplicity is the key element of Buddhist values (Alldritt 122). The color red dominates in the interior design. It could be said that this fact supports the traditions of this religion, as in Buddhism red is a symbol of “power, especially the magnetizing power of love and desire” (Beer 25).
In my opinion, simplicity and red color encourage people to meditate, as it gives them the power to discover the mindfulness. Additionally, the place for the meditation practice is constructed according to Buddhist standards. In my opinion, the simple and modern architecture, the presence of the red color, and the organized place for the meditation make Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco familiar place for meditations. Following all standards encourages people to discover possibilities of their minds.
There are several details, which seem appealing. Firstly, the atmosphere in the center inspires to discover mindfulness and learn the fundamental traditions of Buddhism and Shambhala. It makes me feel energetic, and I am looking forward to exploring the opportunities of my mind. To my mind, the attitude of the center is helpful and bright. It helps to discover new possibilities of Shambhala’s traditions and see a strong connection with Buddhist tradition.
Another aspect, which has a crucial impact on my life, is the importance of the family values in Buddhism, as in the modern world the monks respect their family ties (Wilson 188). It is the fundamental value for me, as I cherish relationships in the family and consider them of high importance. In my opinion, Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco also encourages family evening’s meditations, as children are the essential part of the society.
In conclusion, it could be said that Buddhism is an interesting religion. It encourages people to enjoy every moment of life. In turn, Shambhala is the worldwide community, which makes the meditation practice available everywhere in the world. However, it has only the traces of Buddhist religion, as it has its perceptions. In this case, the meditations are not sophisticated and do not require deep inner concentration.
The design, architecture, and course offerings in Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco respond to all the primary characteristics of Buddhism and Mahayana tradition. In this center, I found two interesting elements, which are part of the Buddhism culture. In my opinion, these elements are essentialities of every tradition to build a right perception of the religion. The inspirational atmosphere is one of them. Respecting the family ties is another aspect, which seemed to be appealing to me.
Works Cited
Alldritt, Leslie. Buddhism. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, LLC, 2005. Print.
Beer, Robert. The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Chicago: Serindia Publications, Inc., 2003. Print.
Hawes, Jennifer. “Buddhism basics.” The Port and Courier. 2013: 2. Print.
Manning, Tara. Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2004. Print.
Shambhala. 2015. Web.
Shearin, John. “Buddhism.” Teacher Librarian 27.3 (2000): 54. Print.
Wilson, Liz. “Buddhism and Family.” Religion Compass 8.6 (2014): 188-198. Print.